Top 3 Aftershaves

It All Depends on the Season or Does It?

The top 3 aftershaves fluctuate with the seasons or at least it used to. During the warmer months the top 3 are lighter smelling with citrous notes and in the winter it is a more woodsy scent that takes precedence according to the old way of thinking about aftershave. Aftershave is a necessity if you shave everyday it can calm the skin and keep it in great shape so while the scent plays a role the quality of the aftershave overall plays a larger role.

Shaving is a rough process that can cause razor bumps, razor burn and general discomfort to the skin. Aftershave can easily calm the skin and keep it feeling great!

Most designer scent lines for men include an aftershave option so that you can layer the scent and calm the skin but today aftershave has evolved into its own product category and no longer piggy backs on the scent lines. It is important to know what to look for in an aftershave to insure that you get a product that is not only going to smell great but that is going to work wonders on your skin as well.

What To Look For

You want an aftershave that has cooling properties to refresh the skin but that also has moisturizing properties to keep the skin supple and smooth. You want a rich aftershave that will nourish the skin with moisturizers and essential oils. Balms are a great choice when you are considering an aftershave that can perform.

One of the top 3 aftershaves is PradaAftershave Balm. It is on the high end when it comes to cost but it has everything you need in an aftershave like moisturizers and essential oils that nourish the skin. It also contains the signature Prada for Men scent. It is pricey and may be a bit out of your budget so you may want to consider something that is less expensive but still on the top 3 aftershaves list.

Nivea for Men Post Shave Balm is a good choice if funds are tight and you want an aftershave that you can use in every season because it is unscented. This is a moisturizing balm that contains good for your skin Vitamin C. It is an affordable option that can be layered with any cologne because it is unscented.

While there are plenty of great designer choices you do not have to pay a lot to get a great aftershave. Historically aftershave has gone hand and hand with scented colognes but times are changing and many men are realizing the value of aftershave no so much for the scent but for the healing properties to their skin.

Dove for Men line offers an aftershave balm that is unscented and works perfectly to heal the skin by calming it and cooling it down after a close shave. The reason Dove for Men makes the top 3 aftershaves list is because of its affordability and the fact that it is a good product. 

Anti Aging Cream for Men

Mostly, I've been writing about all the sports we do in the family, my motorcycle and hiking trips and about eating healthy. A few other interesting topics were about men's health and skin care. This post will be about men's aging... Or actually prevent or delay the aging ;) 

Anti aging cream for men is made specifically not to smell like women's anti aging cream and has other ingredients that are meant to penetrate a mans skin. That does not men that the ingredients are greatly different. Both men and women have the same aging issues, wrinkles, fine lines and leathery looking skin if they do not do something about it.

There are some tried and true ingredients that can be found in anti aging cream that are found in cream for women but the packaging and the fact that it is made for men can easily drive the cost up quite a bit.

Most companies do not market anti aging crème specially to men. They market it to women because it is more accepted in society for a women to be vain and worried about aging BUT just because you are a man does not mean you want to look like something that was road hard and hung up wet to dry. Men should be able to buy anti aging crèmes without the stigma attached.

The Cost

The fact is that these creams are more expensive for men than they are for women because there is a smaller market of men that purchase these creams and there are less options that are made specifically for men's skin.

There are some subtle differences between men and women's skin. Men's skin is a bit thicker and a little harder to penetrate than a woman's skin so the ingredients of the skin cream does need to reflect this by using different ratios of ingredients to best suit the use for men's skin. This of course also drives up the cost.

What you can do is just by cream that is made for a woman's skin and use a little more of it if you want to avoid the higher cost. Finding products made especially for men can be difficult but it is not impossible but you should know that you will pay more for it than your female counterpart will pay for her creams.

The Products

There are some products that are out on the market that are perfect for men. Baxters of California offers a full range of men's anti aging creams that include night time and day time moisturizers, sun blocks and other products that can help reduce the signs of aging.

Apothecary also offers a men's line of skin care products that include anti aging cremes. They are all fairly priced. Many of the larger men's fashion designer houses also offer a full line of mens skin care that are dependable and fairly priced.

L'Oreal just started a new line of skin care that is geared toward men. They already have quite a few skin care products for men. It is rumored that they will introduce a new anti aging cream for men in the next few months. L'Oreal is an affordable brand that is reliable. As more men become aware of the need to care for their skin there will be more products offered.

Manual Or Electric Shaving?

Manual Or Electric Shaving – The Pros & Cons Of Both!

Just like many other Americans, I've started shaving with disposable razor blades until I had enough money to buy my first electric shaver. Over the years, I've bought new electric shavers a few times and now it's time again to buy a new shaver. Of course I can just go to the shop and buy the shaver which will be recommended to me but this time I've been doing a bit more research myself. 

And of course, the first question is: should I buy a new electric shaver or maybe a manual shaver? The electric shavers have been improved a lot over the years and even better with the special wet&dry models but a traditional straight or double-edged razor has a very nice smooth shave as well... 

Shaving is an ancient practice (wikipedia). With technological advancement, today there is the choice between manual and electric shaving. While manual or electric shaving has been a choice for many years now, wet electric shaving was not a reality till a few years back. Today, even that has been accomplished. Every man has a personal preference when it comes to shaving. Some men are naturally inclined to shave manually while some grow up with electric shavers. What you shall like or choose will certainly be your call. Without personal biases and without opinionating on the subject, here is an objective assessment of manual and electric shaving, taking into consideration the pros and cons of both.

Electric Shaving Pros

• Electric shaving is faster than manual shaving. Electric shaving is more effective at one swipe which means that you don’t have to shave the same area repeatedly. Electric shavers force the hairs to get erected before cutting them, making for a quick shave at once.
• Electric shaving is more convenient and it is easier to use an electric shaver almost anywhere, something that is not possible with manual shavers. In other words, electric shavers are portable, certainly more easily.
• Electric shaving doesn’t call for accessories or essentials, from gels to water.
• Electric shaving is effective for beards, facial hair, sideburns and mustaches.
• Electric shaving is also safer as there is almost nil possibility of cuts, nicks or ingrown hairs.

Electric Shaving Cons

• Electric shaving does not offer an impeccably or spotlessly clean shave. You do not get as close or as smooth a finish as manual razors offer. As a result, you will have to indulge in shaving more often than you normally would.
• Electric shaving is also more difficult to master. One can easily use an electric shaver but perfecting the motions and getting an effective shave with such devices require practice.
• Electric shaving is a dry experience which most men don’t like. However, there are some latest models which allow wet shaving, using gel or foam and water.
• Some electric shavers make a lot of noise, thus making an inconvenient or unpleasant ambience.
• Electrical shaving requires batteries and you need to buy them again or recharge them as and when needed. The batteries may run out in the middle of a shave.
• Electric shaving calls for more maintenance, unless there are automated cleaning functions.
• Electric shaving is costly, much more than what manual shaving demands.

Manual Shaving Pros

• Manual shaving offers a clean, smooth or close shave.
• Manual shaving is easier for teenagers and also quite convenient to master.
• Manual shaving is less expensive. It is almost inexpensive and all materials or parts are easily replaceable. Even buying new kits is a miniscule cost, especially in comparison with electric shaving kits.
• Manual shaving kits are harmless and they can be carried anywhere. They don’t need any batteries or power outlets. Some gel or foam and some water would be all that you need to shave.

Manual Shaving Pros

• Manual shaving is painstakingly time consuming. You have to apply the creams, gels, shave and clean your face, the device and then restore all the essentials and accessories.
• You have to continuously change the blades of the manual shavers. Some blades, depending on the model, can be expensive. But those expensive blades will also last longer.
• Cuts or bruising, nicks or ingrown hairs are more common with manual shaving.